Original Cast Album of a new musical comedy, The Brain From Planet X was called "Wildly funny" by the LA Times, and "Outrageously funny" by Cabaret Scenes Magazine. A send-up of bad 50s sci-fi movies, The Brain From Plane... more »t X tells the story of an alien invasion of the San Fernando Valley circa 1958. It's filled with catchy, tuneful songs, and wonderful performances from stars Kevin Spirtas (Days Of Our Lives), Alet Taylor (The Producers, Encores!), Lauren Rubin, Merrill Grant, Cason Murphy, and others. The book is by David Wechter and Bruce Kimmel (creators of the film, The Faculty), and the music and lyrics are by Bruce Kimmel.« less
Original Cast Album of a new musical comedy, The Brain From Planet X was called "Wildly funny" by the LA Times, and "Outrageously funny" by Cabaret Scenes Magazine. A send-up of bad 50s sci-fi movies, The Brain From Planet X tells the story of an alien invasion of the San Fernando Valley circa 1958. It's filled with catchy, tuneful songs, and wonderful performances from stars Kevin Spirtas (Days Of Our Lives), Alet Taylor (The Producers, Encores!), Lauren Rubin, Merrill Grant, Cason Murphy, and others. The book is by David Wechter and Bruce Kimmel (creators of the film, The Faculty), and the music and lyrics are by Bruce Kimmel.
CD Reviews
Main Man Brain Plan
J. Earles | Mooresville, INDIANA United States | 02/27/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are movies (and movie genres) that seem naturals for the stage. There are some that have made the leap to Broadway (or off or near or way off) - that should have been left on the screen ("Urban Cowboy" and "Footloose" are a couple that come to mind in an embarrassment of riches). That being said, "The Brain From Planet X" is one of the naturals. You don't have to be familiar with the source material, although your enjoyment of this disc - and presumably the show - will be increased if you are.
With nods to "The Man From Planet X", "The Brain From Planet Arous", and "Plan Nine From Outer Space" and winks to others including "Invaders From Mars" and "The Thing", this musical is still nothing if not original.
Because its authors Bruce Kimmel (music and lyrics) and David Wechter (book - with Kimmel) know their stuff, the audience is in for a treat! IF the cast is in on the joke, it's not funny. Time and again spoofs fail because they are self-consciously funny...they KNOW. There is difference in knowing what you are spoofing and doing it justice and on the other hand making fun of your source material to show your superiority to it. The former makes the audience love you, the latter can turn an audience off. They are there to see something they love being treated with respect.
"The Brain From Planet X" succeeds - at least as far as I can tell in the recording. The photos in the booklet and the reviews seem to validate my thought.
As the story goes: a typical Southern California town is invaded by a flying saucer. As usual, the saucer and its inhabitants including the title Brain are in the vanguard of an invasion force. Of course having lived on Planet Earth all my life, I am hard pressed to know what invaders from space find so damned attractive, but that's a story for another day.
In a musical - and even more important in a cast album - it is the songs and the voices that count. And "The Brain From Planet X" is blessed in both departments. The orchestrations of Kimmel's tunes by New York based Larry Moore are clever and catchy. The lyrics propel you from character to character and situation to situation with no filler.
Recorded by the cast from Los Angeles City College that includes both professionals and students, this CD is great to take in your car. The professional include Kevin Spirtas, Alet Taylor, and Lauren Rubin. Their solo turns and duets are tons of fun. When Rubin (as a Donna Reed type wife) is zapped and "taken over" and tells Spirtas (as a Carl Betz type husband) that 'Things Are Going to Be Changing Around Here', you can't help but laugh.
When Merrill Grant (as a Shelley Fabares type daughter) can't wait to be bad and tries to convince her Maynard G. Krebs type boyfriend Rod (Grady Williams) to go along with her - well the 'Good Girl/Bad Girl' dichotomy is given a sweet voice.
Invaders Yoni (Taylor), Zubrick (Cason Murphy), and The Brain (Egbert Bernard) will NOT be halted from their Plan!!! Each of them shine in various numbers. 'The Plan' and 'The Brain Tap' are musical gems. The solo efforts of these three 'The Brain's Song' (Bernard), 'I Need An Earthman' (Taylor), and 'All About Men' (Murphy) on this disk will make you long for a local production of "The Brain From Planet X" so that you can get a ticket or better yet AUDITION to be part of it.
With lots of BIG numbers and a built in appeal to a growing audience, this one is a keeper.
The spirits of Allison Hayes, John Agar, Sally Fraser, Arthur Franz, and so many others (here and gone) hover around this show. Keep watching the skies.
If you have a brain you know by now you must buy "The Brain...."
"
Great fun!
drama lover | Alexandria, VA USA | 02/28/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I didn't see the show, but I love this CD! Lively, funny, upbeat. So often we really like a couple songs on a CD, but aren't crazy about the others. In this case, all the material is excellent. I liked the whole CD immediately; it didn't need to grow on me. Not just one or two songs, but ALL of them. And talk about catchy! After listening to the CD just a couple times I found the tunes going through my head while doing other things. "What is that?" Well, it was The Brain from Planet X. I really think these are some of the catchiest songs I've ever heard. Listen to it once and you'll see for yourself.
The cast is wonderful. I particularly like the Brain (Egbert Bernard) himself, Zubrick (Cason Murphy), and Yoni (Alet Taylor). You must hear Yoni sing "I Need an Earthman." GREAT!
Everyone associated with this production has reason to be proud. It is top-notch all around. If you enjoy musicals, you'll LOVE this.
"
This Is One Fun Musical!
G. Dougherty | Olympia, Washington | 03/01/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"THE BRAIN FROM PLANET X is the kind of musical that musical theater lovers love. It's a show with a fun tale to tell and a great score. The story (as synopsized in the booklet) by David Wechter and Bruce Kimmel is not just a spoof but also a loving tribute to the science fiction B movies of the 1950s. You can tell that the authors know and love the genre. What's unique about the story (at least, these days) is that it's not specifically based on any previously existing material. It's an original musical.
The music and lyrics by Bruce Kimmel are melodic, catchy, fun, touching (when appropriate) and just overall well-written. The whole score sounds like it could've been written back then and it would've been a hit. AND there's an actual theremin playing in the opening sequence! It's perfect!
All of the performers sing their hearts out with great energy and spot-on delivery. You really wouldn't know that most of them are students at Los Angeles City College. They're professional caliber.
Kritzerland has put out some wonderful CDs in the short time that it's been around. Everything's been top-notch and this new CD is no exception. Highly recommended!"
The musical that earth has been waiting for!
Edisaurus | Atlanta, GA USA | 02/27/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Anyone who grew up in 1950's America or who has a love of 1950's Sci-Fi films will relish the original cast recording of this new musical. And anyone who loves show tunes will love the witty rhyme schemes, catchy tunes and occasional teasing poke at the musical theatre form found in "The Brain From Planet X". The plot references many of the cheesy films that you would be likely to see on Mystery Science Theatre 3000, particularly "Plan 9 From Outer Space" and "The Brain From Planet Arous". But it doesn't just riff on the genre. There's also social and political commentary hidden among the jokes and clever lyrics worthy of Johnny Mercer. The Brain From Planet X is more than just a loving homage to those B movies. It also skewers musical theatre clichés. You don't have to be familiar with musical theatre to enjoy it, but there are numerous inside jokes that will delight those who are. Although the instrumental array is small in number, the arrangements give it a very full sound, and the actors/singers all deliver the material with gusto. The numbers that stand out to me are the ones sung by The Brain and its two minions, Rubrick and Yoni. I find myself playing those particular numbers over and over again. It's so nice to have a new musical that isn't a remake of a movie, but an original work which is both an amalgam and an homage to those goofy movies of my youth. I would love to see this show performed one day, but in the meantime, I am glad to have the CD. It makes me laugh every time I hear it! ."
Track Listings (23) - Disc #1